As the curtain came down on our conference in October, some of you may recall that Baroness Nicholson of Winterborne asked RD’s Director, Graham Russell to have this photograph taken. Some of you may still be wondering why or just simply forgotten? So here’s a recap on the success of the conference and why the photograph is so important.

The UK has a growing reputation for improving the delivery of regulation. Countries around the world are recognising the need to reform not just the way regulation is designed (to minimise the burdens on business), but also the way it is delivered (protecting people and places and supporting businesses to thrive and grow, innovate and export)

In the UK we have been working on this challenge for quite a while. While bonfires of Red Tape started under a young Harold Wilson in 1948, reform of inspection (regulatory enforcement) received its formal recognition when former Prime Minister Gordon Brown tasked Sir Philip Hampton with reviewing the landscape in 2005. Today, as the UK builds towards a new global trading role , the confidence that good enforcement can give to business is as important in exporting markets as it is in competing locally.

Previous conferences in 2012 and 2014 had focussed on inspection reform and enforcement capability but this year we explored the role of regulation and standards in providing confidence for stability, growth and trade. For the big emerging economies – BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and MINT (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey) – as well as many countries in the Commonwealth, we learnt that the development of trade is increasingly important.

For the delegates who were listening to the Department of International Trade, as well as BSI and UKAS, on the way standards will be developed and used to underpin competitive markets, please do keep in contact with us so we can help you continue these important conversations.

Delegates from states characterised as fragile and post conflict, including Liberia, Sudan and South Sudan, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Colombia, Myanmar and Nepal, shared their experiences and aspirations – recognising the challenges of low capacity state institutions, corruption and mistrust. But they were heartened to hear that the story of a regulatory reform journey in Bangladesh has brought business and regulation together to discover common causes and improve outcomes. Please do continue these conversations as so much can be achieved through the sharing these experiences.

As the UK plans its exit from the EU, it was valuable to compare notes with regulators and policy officials from nations in the Association of SE Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the East African Community (EAC) about their expectations of single markets, trade barriers and mutual recognition.

This brings me back to the photo at the start of this blog. As a UK Trade Envoy, Baroness Nicholson had visited most of the nations represented at the conference! Our minister Margot James had opened the conference with tales of her own experience of regulation as an entrepreneur in the UK and Baroness Nicholson was keen to celebrate the growing importance of women in regulation as well as in business. After the whole conference was photographed in the magnificence of Lancaster House, she demanded that the female delegates, who comprised a third of the total, gathered for this powerful image. I hope it speaks of optimism for the future to you as much as it does to all in Regulatory Delivery.

Please click on the following link to access copies of the presentations by theme and workshop number.

If you trade with the UK, it is vital to know the importance of sustainable fisheries and the safe movement of live animals by air. These tours of Billingsgate, the UK’s largest wholesale fresh fish market, and Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC), a world leader in animal care during transit, will highlight how two strongly growing sectors benefit from good regulation.

Billingsgate: handles 25,000 tonnes of fish and fish products annually, 40% of which is imported.

HARC: cares for tens of thousands of live animals every year – including 28 million live fish!

These two world-leading organisations demonstrate how working with business can protect the environment, consumers and animals while encouraging

The River Thames has been transporting people for centuries and on Tuesday 11th October delegates will have the opportunity to see a different side to London by taking a River boat trip on the Pride Of London, whilst networking and making friends.

Photo of the top deck used for networking

With 2 inside decks the boat works well for reception drinks on the top deck, which will give delegates a great opportunity to continue networking and making friends at the end of the first day of the conference.

Transport from conference will be provided to make sure we arrive at the London Eye pier by 1735 as we will depart at 1745.

On Wednesday 12 October delegates at our conference will be attending 1 of 12 different study visits. This week we want to feature 3 of these visits where there is still time to register.

Advertising self-regulation

Each year, the public sees many millions of advertisements, direct marketing and promotions whether through print media or increasingly through online and digital means. All advertising should, no matter how or where it appears should be legal, decent, honest and truthful. Delegates will visit a major advertising agency together with the Advertising Association, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Clearcast the advertising pre approval body for broadcast advertising, the Advertising Standards Authority which ensures compliance with the advertising codes and Trading Standards who provide a legal backstop function to learn how the code rules are set and delivered.

Pharmaceutical regulation

Regulations and controls around pharmaceutical products are rigorously enforced to ensure consumer safety and maintain public trust in pharmaceutical products and those who sell them. Delegates will visit a major pharmaceutical producer with the Department of Health, Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Proprietary Association of GB to understand how pharmaceutical products are brought to market and controlled.

Protection of precious metals

The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office is where hallmarking began over 700 years ago. Delegates will have the opportunity to visit the world famous Grade 1 listed Goldsmiths’ Hall and London assay office in conjunction with a local authority enforcement expert to understand how the UK hallmarking system protects buyers, sellers and consumers in their transactions in precious metals.

On Wednesday 12 October delegates at our conference will be attending 1 of 12 different study visits. This week we want to feature 3 of these visits where there is still time to register.

Product safety and ease of moving goods across borders

London Gateway Deep Water Port facility is a state-of-the-art, highly automated deep-sea container port on the same site as one of Europe’s largest logistics parks. Delegates will visit the Port facility with London Port Health Authority, HMRC and Trading Standards to explore how the safety of non-food goods entering the UK are assured.

Protecting the Environment – Waste and recycling

Grundon is the UK’s largest family-owned supplier of integrated waste management and environmental solutions, providing total waste management services for the reduction, reuse, recycling, recovery and disposal of waste. This includes the collection, treatment, recovery, recycling and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste and electronic equipment (WEEE). Delegates will visit the Grundon site with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Environment Agency to highlight the importance of interaction between regulators and business in delivering effective regulation.

Securing animal health and welfare in transport

Heathrow animal reception centre (HARC) is a world leader in the care of animals during transport. Last year 16,000 dogs and cats, 400 horses, 200,000 reptiles, 2000 birds and 28 million fish passed through Heathrow Airport. Delegates will visit the Animal Reception Centre and hear from DEFRA, Port Health, the Petcare Association and the OrnamentaL Aquatics Trade Association and the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals to see how animal welfare standards are set and secured.

On Wednesday 12 October delegates at our conference will be attending 1 of 12 different study visits. This week we want to feature 3 of these visits where there is still time to register.

Assuring safety of Meat and Poultry

Smithfield is the largest wholesale meat market in the UK and one of the largest of its kind in Europe. More than 100,000 tonnes of meat and associated products pass through Smithfield each year. Delegates will visit the market with the City of London Environmental Health Team, Food Standards Agency, National Federation of Meat and Food Traders and then visit the offices of the British Meat Processors Association to discuss safety and compliance challenges facing the sector.

Public Health at Airports

London Gatwick airport is the second largest international airport in the UK and 9th busiest in Europe. The main types of food that are imported through London Gatwick Airport are highly perishable products such as fruits, vegetables, meat and fish. Delegates will visit the Port Health team at Crawley Bough Council servicing the Port Health needs of London Gatwick Airport together with the Food Standards Agency, Fresh Produce Consortium, International Meat Traders Association to discuss how official controls are operated effectively whilst minimising delays.

Modernising Health and Safety

It is 40 years since the Health and Safety at Work Act received Royal Assent, providing a new regulatory framework for work place health and safety in Great Britain. This has helped make Britain one of the safest places in the world to work, saving thousands of lives, preventing many more injuries at work and reducing the economic and social costs of health and safety failures. Delegates will visit a major London infrastructure project and hear from the UK Health and Safety Executive, and businesses involved on development of the HSE’s new strategy and future approach to securing the delivery of work place health and safety.

On Wednesday 12 October delegates at our conference will be attending 1 of 12 different study visits. This week we want to feature 3 of these visits where there is still time to register.

Protection of Intellectual Property

The protection of Intellectual Property (IP) is something that concerns all businesses, contributing to economic growth as well as consumer trust and security. Delegates will visit a major brand to explore with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), Trading Standards and industry bodies the importance of design protection and innovation to business growth and confidence.

Use of standards to deliver outcomes

Visit the Regulatory Delivery labs to explore with, the British Standards Institution, UKAS (UK Accreditation Service) and the British Retail Consortium the role of standards in delivering regulatory outcomes.

Sustainable Fisheries Management

Visit Billingsgate the UK’s largest wholesale fresh fish market, selling an average of 25,000 tonnes of fish and fish products each year, approximately 40% of which comprises fish imported from abroad. This visit will explore the issues of fisheries management, sustainability and technical regulatory support with DEFRA, the Marine Management Organisation and SEAFISH accompanied by the NGO and Fisheries accreditation body the Marine Stewardship Council And fishermens organisations.